Bow rider to cuddy?

[Kawasaki]

Boats are a compromise thats fer sure Warpa
You have enjoyed your first trip and adventure to the IOW and we have enjoyed your tale/post about it.
The longing for a vessel that is more 'comfortable' in the ablutions dept is natural
Going bigger and better does bring some thoughts to the Table!
The bowrider you have utilises it's space well for it's size.
What you will loose when you go 'cuddy' may be the ability to use the foredeck
Vessels of 20ft ish (and some up to 27ft or thereabouts too) might have sidedecks that are non negotiable!
IE -- the only way to go foreward is to climb through the screen or to tip toe precariously along a two inch sidedeck with nowt to hold on to
The area for seating and socialising is restricted too, which renders the vessel to take on a smaller feeling sometimes.
Plus the cuddy/cabin can take the appearance of a junk room with 'stuff' bunged in there out of the way!
Just some points to think about during your search.

 

[lovezoo]

These negative responses i am used to on here

One of the games people play on here is to tell you that the boat that you have got is rubbish and is going to sink, catch fire or explode and what you really want is the exact same boat that they have got (which, by coincidence, just happens to be for sale).

 

[gjgm]

How about the walkarounds.. something like Karnic, or some of the Frenchies?

 

[mlines]

Gosh, I have had a Bowrider for three years, I am clearly lucky to be alive!!

Each boat has its benefits and each has its short comings. Enjoy your boat for what it is.

If your bouncing around in a bowrider then at least you are not suffering the pendulum effect in a flybridge.

 

[frankym3]

These negative responses i am used to on here I am a very hands on chap and actually work with my hands being a craftsman, i have a good 'feel' whatever i turn my hands to try it before you underate it would be a good idea, i passed ribs and cruisers on both occasions as im teaching myself the basics of the boat.



GrahamHR

Like i said earlier, we are used to sleeping 'rough' we are not the 60' boaters, if we were ever to afford that we would live on it


just to reitterate one of my 1st posts on here, we like the spray in our faces, to us its what boating is about, like my cars, trucks and even my push bike i work them all to the limit, when i find the limit i try another way to puish them further...extreme sports, madness. call it what you will, but we will always push whatever we have.

my moto even with the tools of my trade is to work them to their limit, i paid for them and they need to pay for themselves

may not be most on heres views, but im still floating

Very honest of you! Dont write the above in your add when time to sell! haha! One careful owner, never thrashed etc.. etc..!

I s'pose another way of looking at it is why are there so many bow riders out there and not at the bottom of the sea! I'd say thats proof there sea worthy enough in the right hands!

What type of cars/ trucks do you drive? Take it its 4 x 4 off roading?

 

[Warpa]

Very honest of you! Dont write the above in your add when time to sell! haha! One careful owner, never thrashed etc.. etc..!

I s'pose another way of looking at it is why are there so many bow riders out there and not at the bottom of the sea! I'd say thats proof there sea worthy enough in the right hands!

What type of cars/ trucks do you drive? Take it its 4 x 4 off roading?

this

When i say push things to the limit the boat in conditions not the engine, the engine and leg i have an engineer looking after, extremely well serviced and maintained

 

[Warpa]

Hull of maxum 21'

Length overall (LOA): 20 ft. & 6 in. (6.25 m)
Beam: 8 ft. & 3 in. (2.51 m)
Deadrise: 19 degrees
Approx. Weight (w/Std Engine): 3,600 lbs (1,633 kg)
Length rigged: 22 ft. & 7 in. (6.88 m)
Draft hull: 1 ft. & 8 in. (.51 m)
Draft max: 3 ft. & 1 in. (.94 m)
Bridge clearance max: 7 ft. & 9 in. (2.36 m)
Fuel capacity: 55 gal (208.18 l)
Engine: 4.3L MPI Alpha I
Hp: 220 hp

Spec of my boat;

Maxum 1750 SR Specifications
Length 17’6″
Beam 7′
Draft (max) 2’11″
Dry weight 2,000 pounds
Fuel capacity 18 gallons
Maximum power 135 hp
Base price $12,995
Engine 3.0L MerCruiser stern drive
Propshaft horsepower 135
Cylinders 4
Displacement 181 c.i.d.
Compression ratio 9.3:1
Maximum engine speed 4,800 rpm

Although the 21' maxum has a dreadfull bow layout with no decent rails around the edge. I did sea in a magazine today a regal 21' cuddy, 1999 for 7.5k which i thought was cheap

 

[hlb]

One of the games people play on here is to tell you that the boat that you have got is rubbish and is going to sink, catch fire or explode and what you really want is the exact same boat that they have got (which, by coincidence, just happens to be for sale).

T. W. A. T.

After many years on here, I thought it was about advice and the OP did ask for advice about bow rider or cuddy.

A bow rider is fine on a lake or in good weather.

But as Warpa says he's going to thrash it till he finds the limit.



You have no idea what it's going to throw up at you next. There is only going to be one limit, thats when it sinks.

As Solatair says, most folk only go out in good weather and dont keep bowriders for long. Hence they dont sink.

Years of experience tells you to treat the sea with great respect and cover at least the basics.

 

[landlockedpirate]

Although the 21' maxum has a dreadfull bow layout with no decent rails around the edge. I did sea in a magazine today a regal 21' cuddy, 1999 for 7.5k which i thought was cheap

With the exception of Scandinavian and newer Jeanneau/Beneteau cuddies, the bows of all these boats are a poor place to be. Trying to drop or retrieve your anchor on the bow is always dodgy and in a few waves its virtually impossible. At least the Maxum has a flatter bow area, boats like the Regal have a steeper deck but higher rails.

I have to agree with hlb, you will get lots of enjoyment out of your bowrider and will probably never have a problem. But the 1 time you stay a bit late in Cowes, the wind gets up and you hit some nasty wind over tide chop, could have very serious consequences.

I speak from experience, I have been lucky to be around boats most of my life, but the most scared I have ever been was in a Glastron 175sx bowrider (very similar boat to yours) on a Lake in Northern England.

The boat was a new family ski boat, I took it out for a spin in the south basin on Windermere, turning round to come back to the marina the waves started to break over the bow. I trimmed the engine up to lift the bow and made good progress but the waves were hitting the screen and running back onto the bow cover, eventually the cover started to give way and water entered the boat. Within 2 or 3 minutes there was a lot of water in the bilge (more than the small pump could cope with) and I was forced to shelter on the nearest jetty. There are no jetties in the middle of the solent.

Bowriders are fantastic sunny day boats, loads of seating, sociable cockpit, cheap to buy and run, but they are very poor if the weather changes. You have been lucky so far, I hope your luck holds.

 

[Warpa]

T. W. A. T.

After many years on here, I thought it was about advice and the OP did ask for advice about bow rider or cuddy.

A bow rider is fine on a lake or in good weather.

But as Warpa says he's going to thrash it till he finds the limit.



You have no idea what it's going to throw up at you next. There is only going to be one limit, thats when it sinks.

As Solatair says, most folk only go out in good weather and dont keep bowriders for long. Hence they dont sink.

Years of experience tells you to treat the sea with great respect and cover at least the basics.

Im not new to boating, just my age maybe making me a little more aware of the dangers. Having said that i am picking up all of the experience i learned years ago.

Over the last 4 days the weather has been anything but fine, my boat is moored up not at the bottom of the sea, and to have to reiterate i have not had to use the bilge pump, let alone use my hand held pump.

A bowrider is obviously not for all, about 8 years on my inflatable i worried a few times and had to go to shore to bail out, it doesnt take long to get a grip on things again and i am more than happy to slam on the waves and go farther afield, but i want the family to enjoy a day out too.

It looks like ill be out again tomorrow even if it is on my own, im comfortable on the waves and need to practice more at pushing the bounderies Not everyones cup of tea i know, fool hardy/ maybe, but i am well aware of my abitlies

 

[hlb]

With the exception of Scandinavian and newer Jeanneau/Beneteau cuddies, the bows of all these boats are a poor place to be. Trying to drop or retrieve your anchor on the bow is always dodgy and in a few waves its virtually impossible. At least the Maxum has a flatter bow area, boats like the Regal have a steeper deck but higher rails.

I have to agree with hlb, you will get lots of enjoyment out of your bowrider and will probably never have a problem. But the 1 time you stay a bit late in Cowes, the wind gets up and you hit some nasty wind over tide chop, could have very serious consequences.

I speak from experience, I have been lucky to be around boats most of my life, but the most scared I have ever been was in a Glastron 175sx bowrider (very similar boat to yours) on a Lake in Northern England.

The boat was a new family ski boat, I took it out for a spin in the south basin on Windermere, turning round to come back to the marina the waves started to break over the bow. I trimmed the engine up to lift the bow and made good progress but the waves were hitting the screen and running back onto the bow cover, eventually the cover started to give way and water entered the boat. Within 2 or 3 minutes there was a lot of water in the bilge (more than the small pump could cope with) and I was forced to shelter on the nearest jetty. There are no jetties in the middle of the solent.

Bowriders are fantastic sunny day boats, loads of seating, sociable cockpit, cheap to buy and run, but they are very poor if the weather changes. You have been lucky so far, I hope your luck holds.

Thank you and lets face it, the sea in the Solent is not much different than Windermere, normally.

I understand why you did it, but the normal route is to put bows down into head seas and up with following ones.

 

[lovezoo]

T. W. A. T.

After many years on here, I thought it was about advice and the OP did ask for advice about bow rider or cuddy.

A bow rider is fine on a lake or in good weather.

But as Warpa says he's going to thrash it till he finds the limit.



You have no idea what it's going to throw up at you next. There is only going to be one limit, thats when it sinks.

As Solatair says, most folk only go out in good weather and dont keep bowriders for long. Hence they dont sink.

Years of experience tells you to treat the sea with great respect and cover at least the basics.

Its normal to sign your name at the end of your post, not the start.

 

[[2068]]

Small boats can be fine in the Solent: Not that many years ago, I went out many times in a Searay 215EC, and never felt scared or in danger of going to the bottom (ignoring having ignition problems near the chain ferry).

The big difference between a bow rider and a cuddy will be if you get it wrong and "stuff" the bow. I've only done this a couple of times in 11 years, but in a bowrider, you would be saying "I only sunk a couple of times in 11 years".

 

[frankym3]

Would I be right in saying a bowriders fine in a stormy sea if youv'e got the balls!.. or maybe that should be if youv'e got gills!

Anyroad, as they say over here in Ireland, keep her between the ditches!

 

[Warpa]

Would I be right in saying a bowriders fine in a stormy sea if youv'e got the balls!.. or maybe that should be if youv'e got gills!

Anyroad, as they say over here in Ireland, keep her between the ditches!

A lot of boats wont be fine in stormy seas, bowrider is fine in most. I have no idea what the conditions last friday were off calshott, but they were not good Fun yes

Someone here must have the sea and weather info from then

 

[hlb]

A lot of boats wont be fine in stormy seas, bowrider is fine in most. I have no idea what the conditions last friday were off calshott, but they were not good Fun yes

Someone here must have the sea and weather info from then

Never seen a rough sea in the Solent. Go to the Needles if you want to find out.

 

[[2068]]

Never seen a rough sea in the Solent. Go to the Needles if you want to find out.

The Solent can get nasty, especially when it blows straight in from the West and the tide is going the other way.

Or try getting back into Chichester harbour the morning after the Sealine owner's club p*ss up (sorry, I meant dinner). Forecast 5-7's. Was only 5-6 in the morning, but that was enough after all the BBQ food the previous day.

 

[Warpa]

Never seen a rough sea in the Solent. Go to the Needles if you want to find out.

Will do all in good time

 

[colingr]

imho the Solent on a bad day is just as bad in a small boat as being out in the open sea. The chop, which bigger boats can ride over, is just wrong for boats < 25ft. Can be very uncomfortable around Calshot.

 

[oGaryo]

Will do all in good time

Warpa.. who do you take with you in the Bowrider.. you're coming across as digging your heels in against the vast majority of advice that's being given to your, why? and are you putting your crew at risk as a result?

The very same advice was given to me two years ago, I heeded it and have never looked back, it was the right decision, for me and my crew.

Have fun, stay safe... hopefully!